The Warren County School District is hosting a national speaker on mental health and substance abuse issues today.
Stephen Hill will meet with students in various schools throughout the day and then speak at an event open to the community tonight at 6 p.m. at Warren Area High School.
“This is a unique opportunity for parents and guardians to use Stephen’s story as a platform to engage in meaningful conversations on substance use prevention and mental health with their children,” Dr. Patricia Mead, the WCSD’s director of pupil services, said.
She explained that the district is utilizing grant dollars to fund access to a full-time drug and alcohol counselor at the Warren County Career Center.
“In an effort to continue offering vital drug and alcohol prevention services to our students, in February 2024 the (district) also arranged for a speaker to share his story,” Mead said. “This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for your children. Through this upcoming presentation students will have access to educational resources and activities designed to raise awareness about the risk of substance abuse. Our goal is to equip students with the knowledge and skills with making health(y) decisions.”
Hill will meet with Warren and Sheffield students in the morning and Eisenhower and Youngsville students in the afternoon prior to the community session at 6 p.m.
“Stephen is the founder of Speak Sobriety, a young person in recovery, bestselling author, recovery coach, and a defense attorney,” Mead said. “He has presented in front of thousands of people for over 750 schools and coalitions across the country, sharing his cautionary tale of addiction to recovery and beyond.”